Pranab Mukherjee has been able to 'touch the sky' after being nominated today as the UPA presidential nominee, his family members said at Miriti his home village in Birbhum district.

Pranab Mukherjee has been able to 'touch the sky' after being nominated today as the UPA presidential nominee, his family members said at Miriti his home village in Birbhum district.

"There is limit to our thoughts. We cannot reach the sky, but my brother could. My brother has touched the sky sitting on the ground. I cannot express my happiness in words," Mukherjee's 82-year-old elder sister Annapurna Devi said recalling the 40 year's of political life of her brother, who is younger to her by six years.

Abhijit Mukherjee, the union finance minister's son and Congress MLA said, "We are feeling very happy that my father’s name has been unanimously nominated in the UPA meeting as the Presidential candidate. I do hope that that he will be elected as the President."

Elder brother, Pijush Mukherjee, a former principal of Patha Bhawan, said, "As elder brother I am the happiest person. I hope that he will be finally elected to the chair."

A classmate of Mukherjee said, "He is known to us as Poltu. He had a very sharp memory and used to participate in school debates."

Pujas were held in many temples for Mukherjee as the country's next President in the village, which he visits each year during Durga puja to worship the goddess.

In Kolkata, sweets were distributed at the WBPCC office as news of Mukherjee's candidature came in.